One of the things that I always find funny is when people always quote Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero as being flops at the launch of the 360. In the industry if you break even you're lucky, you're in the minority. If you make a decent amount of money you're really in the minority. You're in the top percentile. Those two games made a lot of money. For the install base they sold phenomenally well. Kameo is still selling now.

Who the hell is still buying Kameo?

Rare: Perfect Dark and Kameo 'sold phenomenally well' [Videogamer]

PD2, which GameGuru write is "probably coming along considerably well", is scarce on concrete details. Talk of a "morality system", dark themes and branching story paths are all we're really about to pick out, but the author cites sources from within Rare, so maybe he's onto something.

I'm just hoping for a return of Wall Guy and that Rare puts the interns on bug testing and coffee fetching, not on character design for the sequel.

Rumor 101: Perfect Dark 2 - Xbox 360's Next Humungous Killer App [GameGuru via CVG]

Xbox Japan rattled the rusty Kotaku mailbox with news that its discount "Platinum Series" would be getting four new games. They are:

• Chromehounds
• Burnout Revenge
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Perfect Dark Zero

Each will retail for 2,800 yen (US $23) starting March 15th and bring the total discount Platinum titles to nine. Imagine that custom tailored announcements for elsewhere should follow shortly. Brian Ashcraft

Kotaku reader Marcelo turned us on to this Reuters piece, detailing the upcoming Brazilian launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360. What I thought was going to be a run of the mill launch in a territory that no one cares about... oops, I mean is largely ignored... turned out to be an eye-opening bit of news.

Microsoft will be the first manufacturer to sell direct to the market in Brazil, where importers reign supreme. But this privelege will come at a price: 2999 reias, which currently exchanges at $1400 US. That's a lot of reias! Tough to swallow, as importers will bring a 360 to you for close to half that price.

The premium console package will be bundled with a few games, Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power, which makes the steel-booted kick in the wallet a little easier (games retail for close to $75).

The real lesson to be learned here, is that we must be thankful for the low, low prices the God of Consoles has provided for us this generation. No more whining, Americans! Michael McWhertor

Microsoft bets on fast Xbox growth in Brazil

For all you folks still playing Perfect Dark Zero, there are two new multiplayer maps available for free on Xbox Live Marketplace. These two maps came out with the "Xbox 360 Classics" collection, so if you have the old version, now is your chance to snag them.

Can anyone explain how a game that is barely a year old and garnered not so hot reviews can be considered a classic? Dig-Dug is a classic, Pac-Man is a classic. Hell, even the original Perfect Dark could be considered a classic at this point. But, if something a year old can be made a "classic", where does that put me? Somewhere between the earth cooling and dinosaurs, apparently. Flynn De Flintstone

The new Perfect Dark Zero Multiplayer Map Pack is now available on Xbox Live. The pack sells for 500 points and include the following frag locales:

Plaza: Test your skills in this labyrinth of roofs, tunnels, and alleyways.
Trench: Unload in the desert at this archaeological expedition turned battlefield.
Rooftops: Watch you back in this killing ground, where danger awaits around every corner.
Gas Plant: Hide out amongst the pipes inside, or take you chances out in the snow.

I wish they'd give more info about the size of the maps and how many players they support. Brian Crecente

Microsoft sends word that an update for Perfect Dark Zero is coming that will offer up a bunch of new bot personalities to spice up your play.

Each of the eight new bots will have their own personality. For instance, the judge bots will attack the player with the most kills, the bully bots will attack the players with the least and the venge bots will seek the last person that killed it.

Msoft will also be selling four new multiplayer maps for the game through Marketplace.

Live in Japan? Hate first-person-shooters? Well, good thing Msoft will be giving out blue rubber bracelets with PDZ.jp eteched into them on Dec. 9 and 10.

What did you get from Microsoft's Xbox 360 pre-launch? Oh, that's right. Absolutely nothing.

PDZ in Japan [Official Site] via Game Impress Watch

GameShout is reporting that Microsoft won't replace scratched game disks with the ruined game, instead they are offering up free copies of Perfect Dark Zero.

We reported back near launch day that people were complaining about the 360 scratching their game discs. This can happen, though right now the only proven technique is moving your 360 from vertical or horizontal (or vice-versa) while a disc is in the unit, spinning.

It's unfortunate, but I think it would pretty easy for Microsoft to stop that particular issue by slapping a sticker on the front of the box saying not to move it while the power is on.

Microsoft Xbox 360 Refuses to Replace Scratched Discs [Gameshout]

Their highlights and belts may match, but I know there's something besides the uniforms that's different. I just can't put my finger on it.

Find Images Here [Watch Impress]

1Up s Che Chou has been playing Perfect Dark Zero for hours now and despite its high production values and electrifying play, was kind enough to jump off the game occasional to write up quick impressions. Last time I checked he had posted 20 minute, 1 hour and 3 hour updates. His bottom line seems to be that PDZ is amazing online and only marginally less so in the offline single player version.

I was suprised to read, though, that PDZ apparently doesn't allow you to jump. Nooooooooo!

I ll be posting up my review in the next day, but until them make sure you check out Che.

Perfect Dark Zero Impressions [1Up]

We were all scared for a bit there. It s less than a week before the Xbox 360 hits stores and uber-launch title Perfect Dark Zero still wasn t anywhere to be seen. The word on the net was that Microsoft was just running the title through last minute quality control, and some were started to worry it wouldn t make the launch.

Then a final build of the game arrived on my doorstep this afternoon. Unfortunately, I don t have the time to play it, because I have to go to work. (Yes, it does suck.) But I promise to play the living crap out of it tonight and get some sort of review up over the weekend.

I m also planning on posting reviews of Need for Speed Most Wanted and some of the EA sports titles over the weekend, so check in with us.

Next Generation has a story up about the gamble that Microsoft took with Perfect Dark Zero. The software giant pressed copies of PD0 before the disc was even certified, otherwise the game wouldn't have made the system's ship date of Nov. 22. We're getting closer and closer to seeing if Microsoft's gamble paid off.

Rare's Perfect Gamble [Next Generation]

First Hideo Kojima says that the Xbox 360 could power the upcoming Metal Gear PS3 game, and now Rare says that the Revolution's controller could work with Perfect Dark Zero. Designer Duncan Botwood said, "We could make it work, but there'd be some changes to the gameplay, I expect; the controller looks like it might lend itself towards a light gun style of shooting, which would be a fresh approach."

I'm just waiting for someone to say a Revolution game can play on the PS3 so we can come full circle.

Rare Talks Revo [Eurogamer]

One of our readers scored some Xbox 360 software and says that on the back of each box, there is info regarding what the game supports. Project Gotham Racing 3 will support content downloads, but according to the box, Perfect Dark Zero apparently won't. I checked the Xbox site, which does hint at add-on content, but our reader swears otherwise. Unless this is preliminary art, we won't be downloading any maps and hot outfits for Joanna come November.

Joanna's Xbox Page [Official Site]

Perfect Dark Zero Uncovered [Games Radar]

Remember when Joanna Dark needed a place to stay? Well, Swedish website Prylfeber got a look inside the Perfect Dark Zero heroine's apartment and posted all kinds of pictures of the little lady's crib. Besides loads of tech and some guns, she seems to have an Xbox 360 lying around to play. Screw the highlights in her hair, it's the love for technology that's hot.

Thanks Wille.

Perfect Dark star Joanna Dark has hit upon hard times. First, she was homeless in Sweden, looking for a place to crash. Now, her haggard face is getting severe PhotoShop work from FHM magazine.

Could working at the Carrington Institute have worn her down? Is the pressure of living up to her perfect training record too much to handle? Microsoft, I beg you to step in and help this lady out before things get really ugly.

Joanna Gets Airbrushed [UK Resistance]
Help Bed Joanna

Finally, a chance to check out some real live Perfect Dark Zero gameplay in action. The 40MB file was shot during the X05 conference in Amsterdam and shows co-op gameplay in some big urban setting. Impressive.

Video [Xboxyde]